Meeting with a guy named Jeff today for lunch. Jeff is a Minister of MIssions at a church here in the ATL. Under his leadership the church is about to embark on the journey of starting churches. They have actually planted 26 in the past but kind of got away a few years ago. He is really passionate about the Kingdom mindset of planting churches and how they reach a whole new set of people. He’s got the broad spectrum from small groups in a house to planting significant churches. Go Jeff! Trust God’s vision to be bigger than you ever expect.

Here is a prayer request I can’t pass up. Ellis Prince, Gallery Church in Baltimore is having a meeting tomorrow that deserves your prayers. Robert and Pam Holman moved from ATL to Baltimore to be part of the church planting team with Ellis. Pam works in the school system. She has scheduled a meeting with 9 co-workers tomorrow, can’t list the names but listen to this: one Hindu, one Buddhist, Rastafarian, Jewish guy, atheist, and 4 others that are seeking. Anyway they have agreed to meet with Ellis at a coffee shop and just ask Ellis questions about Jesus. How cool is that? How cool will it be that if they are truly seeking God that over the next few weeks or months that Jesus reveals Himself and they all become believers. Would you make that your prayer? Tomorrow 4 p.m. eastern daylight time. Pray!

Said it before and will say it many more times in the future…church planting is the most exciting ministry in the church today. Salvation, healing, answered prayer, changed lives are the norm not the exception. As Nike used to say, “Just Do It!” If you’re a pastor lead your church to sponsor a church plant. If you  are considering a ministry consider church planting. If you are looking to give, give to a church planter. If you are a prayer warrior, pray for church planters. If you are a servant, find a church plant to serve. I stand amazed at what God is doing in and through church planting today from small to large, Jesus is changing the landscape of the modern church through church planting. Get on board.

Haven’t posted in a week. Spent last week at Exponential 09 in Orlando. First 2 days this week at Edge Conference a conference for church planters in Alabama. Spoke on 10 Biggest Mistakes Church Planters Make. Guy in Orlando did same topic. He got most of them right. I wrote this article about 10 years ago, compiled mostly, good stuff from Maxwell, Malphurs, and others I picked stuff up from and/or just screwed up when I was a church planter. Anyway I wrote mine before he wrote his, but he got most of it right as I said.

Also spoke on the Influence of Mentors. Stetzer’s studies indicate that a guy that meets with a mentor weekly almost doubles in attendance over a guy that doesn’t have a mentor. So why don’t more of us take advantage of mentors. Pride, I’d rather do it myself, he won’t have time for me, he won’t understand my problems, I don’t have time…blah…blah…blah. Hard for me to believe that you don’t have time to potentially double in size over the next 4 years. It’s kind of sad.

Anyway back in the saddle for another short week. I say short but have something planned for every day and evening for the next two weeks and only one thing is personal. My niece graduates from UGA in a couple of weeks. I will attend graduation. This will be the 5th year in a row I’ve been to UGA graduation, niece, future son in law, daughter, daughter, niece. Good upbringin’ as they say in south Georgia.

Back to Edge, good hanging out with church planters. Enjoyed getting to speak a couple of times. Miss not speaking more often. Have sermon will travel. See you on the road again soon, I am sure.

I was reminded again last night of the importance of careful communication. I know that everyone has a right to their opinion, even church staff members and volunteers but…facebook, blogs, and twitter or other social media may not be the right forum to share those views. We had an African American man express some disappointment in something someone said on a “social media” as relates to our President. Brian had made a comment about loving people with differing opinions and included the fact that the majority of our church are probably southern conservative republicans but that a number of our people supported the more liberal President Obama in the last election and that we are all Christians and need to love each other.

It is alright to disagree but make sure you handle that kind of controversy in the right way. If you expect to reach people that are different from yourself and you pastor or serve at a large church or even a small one you don’t want to offend the people you would like to reach. So just some friendly reminders if you feel a need to share your thoughts on a social media: 1. make sure your communication is about the issue not about a person. 2. before publishing consider who might read your comment (is there a possibility a person of another race, party, or persuasion might be offended unnecessarily). 3. does the comment divide people into an us and them. 4. even if the truth is shared in love, does the truth “need” to be told in this context. 5. can you clarify so that a person with a differing opinion is allowed to feel okay about that opinion and you are open to dialogue.

I hate it that we have come to the point in America that when we disagree it is about race or party instead of issues. I do have serious disagreements with our President, abortion (a biblical concern), spending (a personal concern), and taxes (a public concern). I make these distinctions because there is not a biblical perspective on spending – except neither a borrower or lender be (isn’t that biblical?) nor taxes – except that Jesus said pay ‘em if you owe ‘em. But I hope that I never degenerate to the place where I believe his positions are because he is African American. I didn’t vote for Clinton nor Gore for similar reasons. (both who say they are Southern Baptist, my tradition, both southerners – my tradition, both white – my race, both fat old farts – my condition) :

Paul said, “I have become all things to all men so that I might win some.” It is hard for me to believe that having made that statement he would blog or twitter something like this, “let’s change the name of tax day to Nero day.” Not only because he would have been killed but because he would not have been able to openly share with a soldier that was loyal to Rome. Obama didn’t invent taxes. Don’t blame him for using them to further his agenda. He was honest with the people who voted for him, we have the person we elected. If you disagree, disagree but make sure you don’t alienate people in the process. I’ve seen some pretty mean comments on twitter. If I was African American I would have a hard time hearing the gospel from you no matter how passionate you preach, sing, or pray.

Let him who hears have ears of understanding….

Henry Blackaby, “A God Centered Church’ writes, “When we live like Christ, we may be treated like Christ.” That my friends is a tough statement to read following Easter week. Jesus was accused unjustly, tried illegally, beaten, spat on, blindfolded and ridiculed, a crown of thorns, teased by Kings and dismissed by governors, verbally assaulted by crooks and soldiers, stripped naked before a crowd that harassed him, nailed to a cross, his father turned his back to him, his best friend denied knowing him, and his disciples ran away from him. And you think you had a bad week?!

I don’t say that facetiously. I say that with all sincerity. We complain about so much. The weather’s too cold, the weather’s too hot. We have had so much rain. We have not had enough rain. Someone pulled out in front of  me (like they knew who you were and wanted to harass only you). Someone’s going to slow. Someone’s going to fast. Someone didn’t speak to me at church or at the grocery store. The music’s too loud. Sing a hymn. Don’t sing a hymn. I don’t like the color of the walls. The pastor ought to wear a tie. The pastor ought to dress like us. We ought to read the KJV. We ought to read the modern translation. We ought to quote Jesus. Ignore what the world says. We ought to send our kids to private christian schools. If we were really spiritual we’d home school. Mothers should stay home with their children. We don’t make enough money to give to the church. I only want to give to my favorite program of the church. Why do we go to Africa aren’t there needy people here? Why don’t we send more money to Africa, America has plenty. The lines at Walmart are too long. Taxes are too high. Teachers pick on my kids. My boss picks on me. OH WOE IS ME, I AM SO ABUSED!

“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves…Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them. You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations…You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered…A disciple is not above his teacher or a slave above his master.” Matt 10: 16ff

God help me endure my trials with the grace and humility that you endured the cross on my behalf. And my I quit being so petty about little things that will mean little in the course of history. Help me learn to be “thankful in all things.” Then may my light shine so that others may know Jesus.

I hate to have to justify numbers, but for some of my church planting friends they abhor the numbers game. I do to if that is our only measurement of success, but to be honest that is a measure whether we like it or not. And in my old pre modern cultural mindset, numbers equal people. So sorry to you guys who hate numbers but…

Fourteen of the church plants connected to WRC reported this week…The average attendance of these 14 churches is 4729 (338). Easter’s attendance at these churches was 7162 (512) (and for you math geeks I did round up anything above 1/2 a person counted as a whole ).

Reports included 4 baptisms (if there are others send me your numbers (sigh). Six reported new believers.

Here is a story from Jim Richmond in Johnson City, TN that is not even officially launched yet. They had 150 in attendance. He asked an artist friend of his to paint a picture of Jesus during the music of the morning. This friend was raised Jehovah’s Witness and had left church because his mother forced “religion” down his throat. After painting the picture and listening to the sermon this man sat down with Jim after the service and after some discussion prayed to receive Christ into his life!!! That folks is why we do what we do.

Go and do it some more.

Any other life change stories out there send them to me at jima@westridge.com. By the way I’m thinking that soon I will abandon this site and go to one that I can fix myself. Tired of not being able to make changes I need. Then hopefully you can make comments again.

Brian gave the WRC staff the day off yesterday so I took advantage and did as little as possible. I actually did meet with a church planter early but the rest of the day was crossword puzzles (i know i’m a dork) and cooking dinner for the wife.

Had a great weekend. I believe we had a strong start to our Hispanic Church Service. Jeff Hinds is a good guy and ready to lead. I believe somewhere around 115-120 were in attendance with adults and children. Can’t wait until we can blow the doors out and move them into the big room! Sabado 4:30 p.m. Tell your friends about it.

Of course the rest of the weekend at WRC was phenomenal. Nearly 7000 in attendance overall. Had to bring in chairs for the last service. Lots of folks indicating the desire to follow Christ.

Reports from Church Plants are looking good.  Everyone appears to have been packed as it should be for Easter. I kind of rode around the area on Saturday, I was kind of disappointed that I didn’t see more church plants with activities in their communities. No offense but you wasted a weekend if you didn’t do something in your community. I’d have given out eggs at the grocery store if nothing else. Just saying.

I got a rare experience for me. I got to speak at New Life Church in Douglasville. Great band and worship. Nobody threw stones, they laughed in the right places, and the folks I spoke with seemed pleased. The church is currently without a pastor and normally have about 200, I would guess that Sunday there were nearly 300 in the worship center. Over 300 chairs and not many empty. The church does not register decisions so I don’t know if anyone came to Christ. After I finished my wife asked me if Brian and I studied together. I told her no but we used the same theme, I introduced the material a lot differently than Brian but we ended up at the same place with a Max Lucado quote. I just wanted everyone to know I sent my message notes and power point into NLC before Brian spoke on Saturday so I couldn’t be accused of plagiarism.

It felt good to speak again to a congregation. If you need a fill in the old man can still communicate believe it or not.

It is the final day of Jesus’ earthly life. I know about the resurrection, but that was a glorified body not bound by time and space. Anyway that gets me to thinking, what do you say at the end. I have had to deal with a few deaths in the last several months. Most of them did not have an idea of their impending deaths. One or two had been given warning. My brother on his last days connected with family and friends. At one point he said he didn’t want people at his funeral that didn’t care enough to call or visit.

Jesus on the last day issued some challenges to his disciples, told stories about the end of the age, had a meal, revealed his betrayer (but the disciples didn’t get it) served his disciples, taught his disciples, and ate with the disciples. Jesus was about to enter a rough night. Betrayals, beatings, trials, near riots.

On this day I remember that He did this for me. Beaten, bruised, and pierced through for my transgressions, crucified for me.

Thank you Jesus. I wish that there had been another way. Thank you that you did it God’s way.

Spent a good deal of time yesterday at Barnes and Noble, drinking coffee and perusing a book. Decided to buy the book. “A God Centered Church” by Blackaby. Anything by Blackaby is challenging but in the first chapter here’s a couple of statements that challenge me: “Salvation is always granted on God’s terms, and it reflects the nature of God Himself. The most identifiable characteristic of salvation is the quality of our love, first toward God and then toward His people. Without a love relationship on both levels, vertically and horizontally, we have not experienced God’s salvation.”

That is a pretty strong statement and one that many in the church would have trouble living up to. If we don’t love God’s people we haven’t experienced salvation! WOW! Can we really say we love God’s people. I know several folks I have a little struggle with, unnamed of course. But Blackaby makes a point that this is God’s plan for reaching the world, love God and love others. (my paraphrase). How can we say we love God when we don’t love His people? Challenge.

Why do we need the church? “There are things God does in, for, and through His family that He does no where else.” Here is a few: through God’s family we receive strength, encouragement, and much needed fellowship, we grow in wisdom and maturity as we relate to those who have walked with God for years, we find security in the family’s watchcare, comfort, accountability, God manifests Himself when we are together, He speaks to the family, He gives gifts to the family, He gives direction to the family, He gives power to the family, “apart from God’s family a Christian will never be pleasing to the Father.”

Ouch! So much for those people who are “spiritual” but don’t need the church. Bottom line, we need each other. I know the vast majority of you that read this are part of a church, but if you read this and you’re not part of a church you need to be. And on this Easter weekend, if you’re part of the family and you have friends that aren’t part of the family, I bet if you ask them they’ll join the “family reunion” at least for this Sunday. Love someone this week and invite them to be part of your family. That is salvation – Love God-Love Others.

First, Pray for the Artavia Family. Lost a child last night that was less than a week old.

Second, pray for my friend Danny Echols pastor of Crossview Church in Rockmart, Georgia. Crossview has the opportunity to purchase a building at about 1/3 the cost of building a facility. 55,000 sf. He walked the facility yesterday with 2 guys from WRC a builder and an engineer. (Thanks Allen and Jeff) It appears they think that Crossview is getting a steal. Now here is the prayer. They need a loan, a gift (or several gifts) to get the deal done. Danny needs to raise $400,000 to purchase the building. They can afford it in monthly payments at about what they are currently renting. If you know a businessman/woman that needs to make a major gift Danny is a worthy guy. He has sacrificed to get Crossview off the ground. Now God is going to bless him. I believe it. Perhaps you can be part of the blessing.

Hispanic service is getting closer. Got invite cards ready. Praying for a huge harvest next week in our first “official” Hispanic service. If you eat at Mexican Restaurants or work with Hispanic folks invite them.

Taking a long weekend with a couple of days off with my wife next week. Can’t wait. Rest.

My wife and I kid  each other about the “sin zone” for the lottery. If the lottery starts to rise toward that 200 million mark it is a real temptation to purchase a ticket.  Now before you jump all over this from both sides. You know who you are, 1. The Lottery is sinful group and 2. The there’s nothing sinful about the lottery crowd. I’m really not here for a discussion on the appropriateness of the lotttery.

The Bible has little to say about the lottery/gambling. The lottery is sinful crowd has to stretch a long way to find scripture that speaks against the lottery/gambling. On the other hand the Pro Lottery/Gambling crowd tends to hide their faces and their hearts when it comes to the destructiveness of gambling to families with addictions. Harvard, hardly a bastion of conservative Christian thinking did a longitudinal study of lottery winners and according to Harvard almost 85% of families are destroyed after winning the lottery. Not very good odds huh? Anybody want to make that bet. Sure a lot of you do. Me only when the numbers enter the “sin zone.” Just kidding.

It was not my intent to go there…but what I was wondering. We have so many needs I was kind of hoping that someone with a heart for church planting might win the lottery and give a bunch to WRC and the church planting efforts. You know like Janis Joplin sang, “Oh Lord won’t you buy me a color tv…only “Oh Lord let a tither win the lottery… ) Now I’m not promoting the lottery (this week up to 54 million ). But if you happen to win it and want to tithe. I assure you I’ll put that money to work in the Kingdom, not in the world. God could do mighty things with 5.4 million dollars directed toward church planting. I know I’m gonna get whacked for this post. But I’m a big boy I can take it and the 5.4 mill if someone wins.